April is the perfect time to start thinking about building that dream deck for the upcoming summer months. Outdoor spaces make the perfect spot for conversations with family and friends. If you start planning now, you can enjoy your new deck before the fall chill sets in.
When determining what material you want to use for your deck, be sure to ask the following questions:
- How much will this material cost?
- What kind of maintenance is involved?
- What color options are available?
- How environmentally friendly is this material?
For the purpose of this blog post, we will explore the benefits associated with composite decking. Keep reading to see if this popular material is the right one for your remodeling needs.
You Can Spend Less Time on Maintenance
When you’re finished with the new deck, the last thing you want to do during your free weekends is maintenance. Before choosing the material for your new deck, you may want to consider what routine tasks you will have to do to maintain its structural and aesthetic integrity. Composite decking requires less maintenance than wood. Simply scrub the surface with a soft bristle brush and soapy water. This is a stark comparison to the maintenance required by wood decking—bleaching and staining the wood every other year.
There’s More Color Selection Now
Composite decking was originally introduced to homeowners in the 1990s. Back then, the only color option available was gray. However, now you can choose from a generous palette of colors to fit your home’s style and your design preferences. More selection in colors also allows for more customization, making it easier for you to achieve the vision you have for your backyard.
Composite is Environmentally Friendly
Most composite decking options are now made out of old milk jugs, shopping bags, and even sawdust. This repurposing helps reduce the amount of materials that would have ended up in landfills. In fact, for every 20 feet of composite decking you build, you would be saving 30 pounds of material from sitting in landfills. Homeowners are starting to be more environmentally conscious when picking materials for a new home improvement project. This trend has only increased over recent years with the increased community awareness of environmental issues.
One negative to composite decks is that they are more expensive than the more traditional wood options. However, many homeowners feel that it is worth the extra money to avoid the inconvenience of constant maintenance.
Eikenhout is a building supply company that is dedicated to helping homeowners and contractors find high-quality building products for their next project. If you are interested in our inventory of residential and commercial building supplies, please feel free to call any of our nine Michigan locations.
